Economic sanctions to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons aren't effective, American
voters say 60 - 33 percent, and 50 percent of voters say the U.S. should take military action to
stop Iran's nuclear program if sanctions don't work, according to a Quinnipiac University poll
released today.

American voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll
55 - 36 percent that the U.S. should not take military action against Iran. But 25 percent of
those opponents shift to support military action if sanctions fail.

The combined result is 50 percent in favor of military action if sanctions fail, with 38
percent opposed.

If Israel attacks Iran, 46 percent of voters say the U.S. should support that move, with 6
percent who say the U.S. should oppose it and 44 percent who say the U.S. should be neutral.

A total of 88 percent of Americans voters say Iran's nuclear program is a "very serious" or
"somewhat serious" threat to U.S. national security with no disagreement from any group.

American voters disapprove 50 - 44 percent of the job Barack Obama is doing as
president, but approve 49 - 42 percent of his handling of foreign policy and approve 46 - 38
percent of the way he is handling Iran. Voters say 48 - 45 percent that President Obama does
not deserve a second term.

"Americans are very concerned about the development of an Iranian nuclear program and
don't think the current policy of economic sanctions is effective," said Peter A. Brown, assistant
director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Voters are not yet to the point that they
want the U.S. military to stop it, but 50 percent say that if the sanctions eventually prove to be
ineffective then they would support the use of force."

While voters say by almost 2-1 the sanctions have not been effective, there are partisan
differences. Only 27 percent of Republicans say sanctions are "very effective" or "somewhat
effective," compared to 44 percent of Democrats and 29 percent of independent voters.

The same split shows when voters are asked about using military force against Iran:

50 percent of Republicans support the use of force in any case, with another 15 percent
who support force if sanctions fail and 23 percent opposed to force no matter what;

29 percent of Democrats support force with no conditions, with 14 percent who support
force if sanctions fail and 45 percent opposed to force;

31 percent of independent voters support force in any case, with 14 percent who support
force if sanctions fail and 43 percent opposed to force.

On another matter, voters say 48 - 40 percent that the U.S. Supreme Court should
overturn Obama's new health care law. Democrats support the health care law 70 - 19 percent,
while opposition is 86 - 8 percent among Republicans and 45 - 38 percent among independent
voters.

From November 14 - 20, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,552 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 1.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1. If the 2012 election for the U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would
you vote for, the Republican candidate or for the Democratic candidate in your district?

44. Do you consider Iran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons to be a very serious threat
to U.S. national security, a somewhat serious threat, not a very serious threat or not a
threat to U.S. national security?

45. How effective do you think the U.S. and its allies policy of economic sanctions
against Iran have been in preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, very
effective, somewhat effective, not too effective, or not effective at all?

47a. (Combined Table Ques 46 & 47) Do you think the U.S. should take military action to
prevent Iran's development of a nuclear weapon or not?
(If "no") If the economic sanctions are unable to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program, do
you think the U.S. should take military action to prevent Iran's development of a nuclear
weapon or not?

48. If Israel were to attack Iran to stop its nuclear weapons program, would you want the
U.S. to, support Israel's military action, oppose Israel's military action, or would you
want the US to stay neutral?